My granddaddy called me crackerjack. He still does when he visits in my dreams. Why? Well, if you follow this blog: you know of our shared love of baseball, already. Granddaddy loved snacks while we watched and he always shared. One day the Braves were playing the Cubs in Chicago. During the 7th inning, stretch,
Author: gapb83
My brother and journey partner calls me polar bear. One of my other brothers does too, sometimes. Why the nickname was given, in the first place, isn’t my story to tell. What is my story to tell was my reaction. I was given the nickname over ten years ago. I thought it was interesting. I
During my presidential fellowship year, I made lifelong friends. Some of those became part of my chosen family. I met Dwayne when I was trying to hide, against the wall, in our hotel hallway before meeting, yet, more Washington elites during the first conference. I’ve never been great at small talk, and I needed a
One question I get constantly from strangers, and people who are just getting to know me is how are you so happy? Truth is, I’m not always. In fact, there are many days when I’m anything but. However, I’m able to survive these days and come out the other side better for them. I survive
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) & I have a love/hate relationship. Being born with a condition requiring me to use a power chair so I can be as “normal” as possible & live a full life means I live the headaches of insurance frequently. Mine, like most conditions, is considered a preexisting condition. I was
Did any of you ever read The Princess and the Pea? Well, if you did, remember how she feels the pea under all those mattresses? That’s what having CP is like for me. I can feel everything. I can tell dad or my actual wheelchair mechanic what’s wrong with my char(s) usually. I can differentiate
I wear braces on my legs. They are called ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) for short. I’ve worn them most of my life. Here’s the process by which they are made: the person making them draws on my feet and legs with a skin safe colored pencil. Then he or she puts long socks on me
I was going to blog about something from my ever-growing list of ideas on my computer, then last night happened. This is my most raw, honest, blog to date. As this journey continues: I’m sure I’ll feel led to change my plan. This blog, my journey, my life is in God’s hands, always. It usually
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) is my favorite US President. People, when I tell them, assume that I’m a democrat, sometimes. My love of FDR has nothing to do with politics, or my other job as a political scientist, at all. Shortly after the conversation with Granny about my condition my parents took me to Warm
Most of this blog post I wrote in early 2010. What I wrote is below: As I sit here listening to RENT, I’m inspired to share this story with everybody. I know somebody needs it today. I hope it gives somebody the strength they need to be themselves because as I look around the outside